Thanks for your interest in Success Academy! Running a large, fast-growing, and high-performing network of public charter schools takes a village - families, children, teachers, staff and faculty, advocates, and supporters alike. We are growing fast in New York and expanding to Florida, and we would love to welcome you to our community! We work tirelessly every day to ensure children have access to a fun, rigorous, whole-child education regardless of zip code or economic status. When you join SA, you play a part in giving every student who walks through our doors a fair shot at reaching his or her potential.
Success Academy is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel to join our Advisory Legal team. This role is ideal for a practical, detail-oriented attorney looking to move in-house and serve as a generalist, with a focus on school facilities, public and private real estate, financings, governance, and expansion efforts.
The Senior Legal Counsel will play a key role in managing projects, advising cross-functional teams, engaging with public and private counterparties, and overseeing outside counsel in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment. This role offers significant growth potential for an attorney who is eager to build expertise across legal, operational, financial, and governance matters affecting a growing public charter school network.
Key Responsibilities:- Advise on legal issues related to the acquisition, leasing, use, renovation, financing, operation, and management of school facilities.
- Draft, review, and negotiate leases, licenses, facility-use agreements, vendor contracts, access agreements, maintenance agreements, construction-related agreements, and other facilities and operational contracts.
- Advise on public facilities, including co-locations, shared-space arrangements, school siting, space allocation, building-use issues, and negotiations with government agencies, school districts, public authorities, landlords, and other stakeholders.
- Support financing transactions, including bond financings and related diligence and closings.
- Advise on governance matters, including board authority, fiduciary duties, conflicts of interest, committee structures, resolutions, bylaws, policies, approvals, and documentation.
- Support Success Academy’s expansion efforts, and related state-specific legal, governance, facilities, financing, and operational requirements.
- Manage outside counsel.
- Partner with Finance, Real Estate, Facilities, and Operations, and senior leadership to provide practical legal guidance, problem-solve, and keep complex projects moving.
What We’re Looking For:
- J.D. and admission to at least one U.S. state bar; New York admission or eligibility for in-house practice preferred.
- 5+ years of legal experience in a law firm, fast-paced nonprofit, private-sector organization, government-facing practice, or in-house legal department.
- Experience in one or more of the following areas: real estate transactions, financings, nonprofit or corporate governance, contracts, education law, government-facing work, or in-house counseling.
- Strong drafting, analytical, negotiation, and project-management skills.
- Exceptional attention to detail and excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to manage ambiguity, prioritize competing demands, escalate constructively, and translate legal analysis into practical next steps.
- Strong judgment, discretion with confidential matters, and comfort advising business leaders and executives.
- Demonstrated interest in public education, mission-driven work, and/or education reform.
Exact compensation may vary based on skills and experience. This position is not bonus eligible.
Success Academy Charter Schools is an equal opportunity employer and actively encourages applications from people of all backgrounds. Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience. Success Academy offers a full benefits program and opportunities for professional growth.
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We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We actively seek applications from people of all backgrounds to strengthen our community and the perspectives needed to flourish in a multicultural world. Success Academy offers a full benefits program and opportunities for professional growth.
Success Academy Charter Schools does not offer employment-based immigration sponsorship.
Skills Required
- J.D. from an accredited U.S. law school (or equivalent)
- Licensed to practice in at least one U.S. state, with admission to the New York Bar or eligibility for in-house qualification in New York
- At least six + years of legal experience, including in-house at a fast-paced company, nonprofit, and/or BigLaw
What We Do
Since 2006, Success Academy has tackled educational inequities head-on by providing exceptional public education for 20,000 K-12 students in New York City. Our network of over 50 free public charter schools is looking for diverse, ambitious, talented people like you to join our team! Starting on your first day, you’ll receive world-class training and mentorship while working in a collaborative environment with passionate colleagues. As part of the Success Academy team, you will have ample growth opportunities within our network — including leadership roles. Success Academy is seeking candidates from all majors and backgrounds. All interviews are virtual, and a degree in Education is not required to teach. If you graduated or will be graduating with a bachelor's degree between Dec 2023 and Dec 2024, we encourage you to apply! We encourage you to look at our current openings and consider applying.
